The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-03-31

the pleasures Of Washington life. All three Of
| the partners were young, able well-connected,
and with scores Of influential friends. Their
business for time prospered, and the future
| looked very bright But extrayagant ideas
and c0Dvivial Tendencies proved more attract
i've than the plodding cares OF professional
life. Business neglected, went 10 pieces, the
| firm was broken up. and its members dritted
far out upon that sea of broken hopes and
wasted opportunities, and the one above espe-
cially alluded TO was finally washed ashore at
| the spot Of his former Clories and trnmphs.
| Since his arrival he has perf0rcC been COM
| PEELED TO join the army Of Colonies, judges
aud Majors" and it is pitiable TO see how
soon he has learned TO request small loan,
and DC promptly On hand when bar-roOm invi-
tations are going around.
VETERANS IN THE CITY.
Mai. Gen. NJ. ID. Leggett was in the city sew
eral days last week on professional business.
He appears 10 be i'm excellent health. His un-
failing spirits and capacity for enduring hard
ships and fatigue were always maryels TO his
comrades Of the Army Of the Tennessee and
they are no less astOnshod now that, in spite
OF the prodigiOus amount OF labor that he has
performed, his great responsibilities and the
hardships and dangers he has experienced, his
mental and physical activity should suffer no
abatement
Il
been visiting friends and relatives here He
went out in the 9Th Mich, and served with it
until he was disabled by terrible blow from a
muskct-stock in the hands Of stalwart rebel
during the struggle in the Peach Orchard at
Gettysburg. He had been previously wounded
al Charlottesville and on the Peninsula, but
the blow from the musket broke has collar
hone, and when he was convaloscent the Ex-
aminlng Surgeons, much TO his regret, ordered
him 10 he transferred TO the Veteran Reserves.
He is now superintendent Of a large printing
Office in Detroit and is Secretary Of the 9Th
| Mich. Survivors Association. This association
has just gotten up beautiful gold badge, with
the red diamond Of the Third Corps in enamel,
and surrounded by appropriate emblems and
inscriptions.
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE had the pleasure
of call last week from Castle p. Lovelace, of
Seward Post, GAR, Auburn, N. Y. Comrade
Loyelace was a member of Co. A, 18th N. Y.
III. A. and was en- route 10 Richmond, Va, to
pay a fraternal visit TO r. Il. Lee Camp, No i,
C. V. He returned in good order, although he
reports having been captured by the Confeder-
ate Veterans, who made his confinement very
pleasant and on an entirely different basis from
that which existed during the war.
Between Lee Camp and Seward Post there
exists a strong bond Of good fellowship cement
ed by sundry interchanges OF courtesies, and
il is as much as a mans stomach is worth to be
found within the jurisdiction of either Of these
organizations. Comrade Lovelace says Wait
until some Of those Richmond boys come up TO
Auburn again"
AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.
Two Kentuckians-one a blacksmith-re-
Gently called at the Navy Department and an
nounced that they had discovered process Of
treating steel which will practically revolu-
tionize the art of steel tool making. They in
innate that the invention relates TO the chemi-
huth Il
tempering process The callers asserted that
by their method Of treatment the commonest
grades Of metal, such as shear 'Or cast-steel,
could be so tempered in the matter of hardness
and toughness as 20 fully equal the best grades
OF tool steel A pair of cheap caststeel scissors
can be edged up equal TO the best tool shears.
! An experiment was made on the blade Of Sec
rotary Whitney's pocketknife, with the result
that it was possible TO cut or white an ordi-
nary steel key without apparent injury TO the
blade. Moreover, the results of the treatment
are asserted TO be so under control that il is
possible 10 temper steel 10 any degree Of hard
ness or toughness that may be required 10y the
use for which il is intended. The Secretary,
after consultation with the Chief of the Bureau
OF Ordnance, decided to permit the process TO
be tested eXperimentally IT the Washington
Navy Yard. Commodore Scard accordingly
ordered specimen bars Of steel TO be prepared,
and the experiments have already been begun.
CURIOUS SPECIMENS OF MONEY.
Some curious specimens Of mutilated notes
have recently been presented at the United
States Treasury for redemption. One of these
consisted Of about 800 in National Bank notes
which had been placed in a small tin can for
security, but which afterwards caught fire in
some unknown way and were burned 10 a crisp
When recovered they resembled nothing ex-
cept black, charred mass. The package was
submitted to experts, and notes 10 the amount
of $50 were taken from il in small sections and
easily identified A check 10 that amount was
mailed 20 the owner.
Another case was where the experts were
called upon TO examine small pieces of pulp.
which il was explained was all that remained
Of pOcketbOok containing about 5000, which
a Western farmer had dropped in a field while
at work, and which had been torn piecemeal by
one Of his pigs who had leisurely chewed it
until II began TO taste badly, and had then spit
il out in pieces as he trudged along the pasture.
All that could be found were sent TO the Treas
ury, and enough remnants were discovered TO
entitle the farmer TO the sum Of $40 in good
money.
THE NATIONAL DRILL.
The National Drill, which will run from May
% TO May 30 in this city, it is fully assured,
will be the most extensive encampment and
military display in this country since the end
ing Of the war. The fine grounds south of the
White House. and in the immediate vicinity of
the Washington Monument, which will be the
site Of the encampment, will be known as
Camp George Washington" IL is antici-
pated that at least $4,000 troops, gathered from
all sections Of the country, will compete for the
splendid prizes which have been offered. Mill
tary organizations in no less than 30 States and
/, in several Of the Territories have been in cor
respOndence with the committee having the
drill in charge, and the majority of them, il is
hoped, will participate. Almost all the States
will be represented. Washington is never more
lovely than in the last OF May, when il blooms
like a perfect paradise Of flowers and foliage.
From the inquiries which have come here il is
safe 10 say that the crowd which will gather
will exceed even the immense assemblages OF
, Inauguration Day.
CHAT ABOUT CoNGRESsMEN.
Maj. James Laird, Of Nebraska, made trip
down into Virginia last week with the double
purpose Of seeing the old battie6elds on mum
Der of which he had fought and Of informing
himself by actual observation as 10 the indus
trial social and political condition Of the "Old
Dominion" lie kept his eyes open during his
excursion, and consequently has come back
with large stock Of valuable information
! He is hopeful that there is an awakening in
Virginia that will lead 10 good results.
For the first time in a long period there is no
Robinson In Congress, and there are only two
Smiths and but one Thompson. There are 10
! MACS" and four "O's"
Ex-senator Warner Miller of New York was
in the city last week, the guest Of Senator Cam
crOn lie declares he is out of politics al least